Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-10-02

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

In a number of countries, some people think it is necessary to spend large sums of money on constructing new railway lines for very fast trains between cities. Others believe the money should be spent on improving existing public transport.

Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

 

Student answer (Band 5.5)

In many countries, some people argue that it is important to spend large amounts of currency on building new railway lines because of the fast travelling between cities. Others believe that currency should be spent on upgrading present public transport. This essay will discuss both views and explain why I believe investing in present public transport is so much better.

To begin with, railway lines give faster travel between different cities and save travelling time. High-speed trains can reduce travel time between major cities. As a result, individuals can reach their destination quickly in any kind of emergency such as for work, education and business. For example, students may easily reach their exam center on fast trains. In addition, another benefit of building fast railway lines is that they can economy growth and create opportunities for employment. Constructing new railway lines requires many workers, engineers, and various professions. As a result, it can have a positive impact on our economy system.

On the other hand, many people depend on public transport. Daily commuters need better services. Improving public transport can make travel better. Many youngsters use buses, local trains, and metro systems every day. Upgrading this transport can make travel convenient and safe. Therefore, the government should spend money on reconstructing bus stations, cleaner vehicles, and frequent services. Moreover, public transport is more affordable for the public. Not everyone can afford private transport or expensive high-speed train tickets. Affordable buses, trains, and metro services allow people to travel at a low cost.

In my opinion, Government must spend money on the upgrading public transport facilities. For easy and convenient travel can give people safer travel.

In conclusion, although railway lines give faster travel and people can reach their destination in a quick way. I believe that public transport is more convenient for people because it is affordable and better upgrading gives people easy travel.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt by discussing both views on public transport investment and high-speed railway construction, and it clearly states a personal position. However, some ideas remain under-developed and limited in scope. For instance, the discussion on how high-speed trains boost economic growth is supported by a brief claim that it requires workers and engineers, but this point lacks depth and extension. Similarly, the example of students reaching an exam center is rather simplistic for an academic essay. To reach the next level, the writer needs to expand on their supporting examples with more substantive reasoning, specific details, and better-rounded explanations for both perspectives before concluding.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The essay displays a coherent overall arrangement with a recognisable introduction, body paragraphs, and a clear conclusion, showing an attempt at logical organisation. Paragraphing is utilised to separate distinct ideas, such as discussing high-speed rail in the second paragraph and regular public transport in the third. However, the use of cohesive devices is sometimes mechanical, repetitive, or inadequate, as seen with the frequent reliance on transitional phrases like 'To begin with', 'On the other hand', and 'In addition'. Furthermore, referencing and logical progression can be slightly disjointed at times, particularly in the final body paragraph and the conclusion, where sentences like 'For easy and convenient travel can give people safer travel' lack clear cohesive links. Developing smoother transitions and a more varied toolkit of cohesive devices will enhance the overall flow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The writer uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, attempting some less common items such as 'commuters', 'metro systems', and 'affordable'. However, there are noticeable lexical errors, awkward word choices, and repetitive phrasing throughout the response, such as using 'currency' instead of 'funds' or 'money', and writing 'they can economy growth' instead of 'they can economic growth' or 'boost economic growth'. Word forms are also occasionally imprecise, as seen in phrases like 'better upgrading gives people easy travel'. These errors reflect a limited range and occasional strain on the reader, though communication remains mostly clear. To progress, the writer should focus on precise word choice, accurate word forms, and collocations suitable for academic writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The response shows a limited range of grammatical structures, relying primarily on simple sentences alongside some basic complex forms. Attempts at more complex structures are frequently faulty, leading to frequent errors in grammar and punctuation that can cause some difficulty for the reader. Examples include fragment sentences and awkward syntactic patterns, such as 'For easy and convenient travel can give people safer travel' and 'although railway lines give faster travel and people can reach their destination in a quick way. I believe...'. There are also issues with prepositions and article usage within grammatical patterns. To improve, the writer needs to incorporate a wider variety of accurate complex sentence structures, ensuring that clauses are properly connected and punctuated without grammatical fragments.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.